Urdu journalists Federation Oppose GO 252 circulation clause

Urdu journalists Federation | Hyderabad, Jan. 11 (Maxim News): The issue of the Accreditation Card for journalists has triggered strong objections from Urdu journalists in Telangana.

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The Telangana Urdu Working Journalists Federation raised serious concerns over GO No. 252, issued by the state government for the issuance of the Accreditation Card.

The federation said the guidelines unfairly affect Urdu journalists and demanded immediate amendments.

A high level meeting took place in Hyderabad on January 10 at Secretariat. Revenue and Information and Public Relations Minister P Srinivas Reddy chaired the meeting.

The K Sreenivas Reddy Chairman of the Media Academy of Telangana and the Ch. Prinyanka Commissioner of the Information and Public Relations Department also attended.

Several journalists’ organisations participated. The Telangana Urdu Working Journalists Federation represented Urdu journalists in the meeting.

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During the discussion, TUWJ federation General Secretary Syed Ghouse Mohiuddin said GO No. 252 harms Urdu journalists and is more unjust than the earlier GO No. 239.

He pointed out that the new order makes newspaper circulation a key condition for issuing the Accreditation Card.

Urdu journalists Federation

However, he argued that this condition ignores ground realities. Urdu is the second official language of Telangana, and Urdu speakers form around 14 percent of the population.

Therefore, Urdu newspapers naturally have lower circulation compared to Telugu newspapers, which cater to nearly 84 percent of the population.

He said applying the same circulation standards to both languages amounts to discrimination. Therefore, he demanded that Urdu newspapers be exempted from the circulation condition.

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He also urged the government to issue Accreditation Cards at mandal and district levels to Urdu journalists without conditions by making suitable amendments to GO 252.

The federation also highlighted problems faced by small newspapers. Currently, small newspapers submit copies daily at the Information Commissioner’s office in Hyderabad and receive monthly attendance certificates.

However, GO 252 now requires them to submit newspapers daily at district level DPRO offices. The federation called this unfair. It demanded that the attendance certificate issued by the Commissioner’s office should be accepted for district level Accreditation Cards as well.

Meanwhile, the federation raised objections to rules imposed on cable TV operators. It demanded the removal of conditions related to offices, studios, and newsrooms at the district level.

Urdu journalists Federation | Digital Media

It also asked the government to make Accreditation Card committee meetings mandatory every three months. Small newspapers and cable TV channels should get cards approved in the first meeting itself.

The federation further sought relaxed norms for freelance and veteran journalists, It requested lowering the turnover requirement for news agencies from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 1 lakh.

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The M. A. Mohsin from Digital Media Publishers and Broadcasters federation demanded changes to strict rules for digital media, including a reduction in required visitors and introduction of slab system in visitors count.

The Telangana Urdu Working Journalists Federation submitted a detailed written memorandum highlighting flaws in GO 252. The minister and the commissioner assured the delegation that they would examine the issues and consider the proposed amendments seriously.

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